A Fox's Alliance (American Kitsune Book 10)

by Brandon Varnell

  Kevin slowly nodded. “I suppose I can understand that.”

  And he did. Kuroneko obviously cared for her people. She wanted to provide them with a safe place. However, that safety had been threatened by the ever-present naval base at San Diego. It was only natural that she would want to do something about it before leaving, especially since her presence was what had kept the naval base from attacking.

  “You’re too kind.” Kuroneko clasped her hands together and smiled at him. “Now then, I suppose I should get to the next reason I wanted to speak with you. Daven has—”

  The earth shook as a series of loud explosions rocked the building. Screams came from inside and outside of the café. While Kuroneko stood to her feet, Kevin, Lilian, and Iris all fell off the bed, landing in a tangled heap of limbs and tails on the floor.

  “What on earth is going on?” Kuroneko asked of no one in particular. Meanwhile, Hina had adopted a combat stance, her left index finger glowing a bright blue.

  A large crash echoed around them as the ceiling collapsed, and something that glistened like silver dropped to the floor. It crouched on the ground, body lowered like a predator getting ready to pounce on its prey. It was a Yōkai Killer.

  Kuroneko moved before it could even stand up. She stepped into its guard and slammed her open palm against its chest plate. The next thing anyone knew, the Yōkai Killer was gone, having been blasted right through a wall and into the streets below.

  “It seems I have underestimated our foes,” Kuroneko murmured.

  After untangling himself from Lilian and Iris, Kevin stood up, glaring out of the hole that the Yōkai Killer had made.

  “I don’t think this is the work of the naval base,” he said. “You already defeated them, and they haven’t been released yet. I’m pretty sure the Sons and Daughters of Humanity are responsible for whatever is going on now.”

  Kuroneko agreed with him. “Indeed. I should have expected nothing less from that terrorist group.”

  Lilian walked over to the hole that Kuroneko had made when she’d liberally punched the Yōkai Killer through the wall. Her eyes widened and she turned back to Kevin and the others.

  “Kevin, we’ve got big problems.”

  “I was kind of aware of that already.”

  “No, you don’t understand. Look outside.”

  Kevin heard the urgency in his mate’s words. He didn’t question her after that and strolled over to the hole, taking a look outside.

  Chaos. Pandemonium. Everywhere he looked, something horrible was happening. Explosions rocked the city, buildings were burning, people were screaming, and Yōkai Killers were attacking in masse. There were so many of them that Kevin couldn’t even begin counting their numbers. They flew through the sky, zipping around like flies and destroying everything in their wake.

  “Oh, that’s not good…” he muttered.

  Iris agreed. “I guess this is what happens when we win a battle and grow lax as a result of thinking we won the war.”

  “Iris!” Lilian hissed at her sister. “That’s a rude thing to say.”

  “No, she is correct,” Kuroneko said, also staring out at the chaotic throng of violence taking place. “I should have foreseen this the moment Yōkai Killers were deployed for combat at Manhattan Beach.”

  The US military did not have access to the Yōkai Killers. Only the Sons and Daughters of Humanity used those right now. Kevin knew it was because there simply weren’t enough of them to wage a full-scale war, so Yōkai Killers were only ever used for special missions that involved the killing of high-profile targets—or so Kevin had believed.

  Kevin bit his lip. “Someone high up in the Sons and Daughters of Humanity must be here. That’s the only explanation for why so many Yōkai Killers have been deployed.”

  “You’re probably right,” Lilian agreed.

  “So, what do we do now?” asked Iris. “We’re not going to fight, are we? I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t think our participation is going to make much of a difference.”

  At that exact moment, a Yōkai Killer rushed into the room, forcing Kevin, Lilian, and Iris to dodge. Kuroneko didn’t dodge, and when the Yōkai Killer tried to stab her with its spear-shaped arm, she stepped around the attack and punched it with a glowing blue fist.

  “Aether Force.”

  A ripple distorted the air before, like a planet being struck by a comet, the Yōkai Killer was launched back out the way it had come, disappearing into the distance.

  “You three will not be fighting in this battle,” Kuroneko said, turning to them. “I have already used your presence for my benefit too much. I cannot impose another request of this nature on you.”

  Kevin wanted to protest those words. He wanted to tell her that they would be more than willing to help out. He didn’t, however, because they were running on a bit of a time limit. While no such limit had truly been imposed, the sense of urgency that Daven had when he had given them this mission had been apparent to him. They couldn’t afford to dally here for much longer.

  “Besides,” Kuroneko continued. “It is not like having two kitsune and one human added to the mix will help in this instance. There are too many enemies for three more people to make up the difference.”

  “That is true,” Lilian murmured, placing a hand to her lips. “Still, though, it kinda leaves a bad taste in my mouth to abandon you guys like this.”

  “Really? Because I don’t feel the same way,” Iris declared—and then received a smack to the back of her head from Lilian and Kevin.

  “Nobody asked you,” they said at the same time.

  “Tch. I never get any love.”

  Kuroneko graced them with a rare smile. “While I appreciate the sentiment, I do not feel the same way. Your mission is far more important in the grand scheme of things. Daven has asked you to speak with each of the Four Saints in the hopes of building an army that can match the US Military and the Yamata Alliance. That is far more important than you staying here to help out.”

  “But how can you help raise an army if you’re defeated here?” Lilian pressed.

  Kuroneko grinned at her. “My dear girl, do you really believe that an attack of this caliber is enough to defeat me?”

  At the exact moment that Kuroneko said this, a Yōkai Killer burst in through the wall. It landed on the floor, metallic feet digging into the carpet.

  “Aether Orb.”

  It was then sent back out when Kuroneko shot a bright blue ball of energy at it, sending it crashing through several buildings.

  Lilian shook her head.

  “Exactly. While this attack did come as a surprise, it is not as if something like this will be enough to defeat me, and it’s not like we haven’t planned for this eventuality anyway. All the people of Saint Byakko know what to do in the event of a surprise attack. Now, then, you three need to leave here. Hina shall be your escort.”

  “What? Why is—”

  “Not the time to argue, Lilian,” Kevin interrupted before she could finish.

  Lilian huffed and crossed her arms. “Fine, I suppose she can escort us.”

  “You should be lucky that I’m escorting you,” Hina taunted. “You’d never make it out of this state alive if I wasn’t.”

  While Lilian bristled with barely constrained anger, Kevin intervened before she could actually say something.

  “In that case, we’ll be relying on you. Please lead the way.”

  “Of course. Anything for you, Honey.”

  While Kevin shuddered, Iris leaned over and whispered into his ear. “Hey, it totally slipped my mind until just now, but why is she calling you ‘Honey’?”

  Lilian growled.

  “Don’t ask,” Kevin muttered as the shuddering was finally grounded.

  He didn’t think he’d ever get used to how these yōkai women treated him.

  ***

  There were secret tunnels underneath Saint Byakko. According to Hina, who was acting as their guide, the tunnels had been created
by Kuroneko decades ago. She’d done so with the assumption that yōkai might become endangered by humans and would need a means of escaping the city unnoticed.

  Her foresight in this matter impressed Kevin. She might not have ever believed that humans and yōkai would eventually wage war against each other, but she hadn’t lived her life under the assumption that it could never happen either.

  The tunnels were a series of underground passage that reminded him of the underground railways in places like London, Tokyo, and New York City—minus the railroad tracks. The ground was smooth pavement, and the ceiling was arched. Their footsteps echoed and bounced back to them as they walked, and the explosions and sounds of combat above them continued to make themselves known.

  I should be up there.

  Kevin wasn’t really the kind of person who helped others simply because it was the right thing to do. He wasn’t a hero from a shōnen manga, the kind who helped because that’s what heroes did. However, that didn’t mean he could just ignore when people were in trouble either. Only a truly horrendous or apathetic person could ignore someone in need, and Kevin liked to think that, flaws aside, he was a decent person who would help someone if they needed it.

  People are dying and here I am, scurrying around underground like some kind of rodent.

  It made him feel sick. There were people above him who were fighting for their very lives, and he was running away. What kind of person did that make him? He couldn’t imagine it was a very good one.

  “Beloved…”

  Walking alongside him, Lilian placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked at her, at the kind smile she was giving him. Her smile was like a panacea for his troubled mind.

  “I understand how you feel right now. Running away like this gets on my nerves, too,” she said.

  “Really? Because it doesn’t bother me one bit,” Iris declared.

  “Nobody asked you,” Kevin and Lilian said in unison.

  “Tch!”

  “Anyway, while I understand how you feel, you know that we don’t have any other choice. We really do need to leave here quickly. We’ve already stayed here too long,” Lilian said.

  “I know.” Kevin sighed. “But I still feel like I should be doing something other than running away. I feel like a coward.”

  “Me too. Running away from a battle like this isn’t something a shōnen hero should do.”

  “Um… right.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, most of the people currently fighting have been specifically trained by Kuroneko-hime herself,” Hina said. “All of the civilians have most likely been evacuated by now.”

  “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” He smiled at Hina. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome, Honey.”

  Kevin shuddered again.

  “Hey! Stop calling Kevin ‘Honey,’” Lilian growled, grabbing Kevin’s arm and holding it protectively to her chest.

  “I’ll call him whatever I want, and you can’t stop me.”

  “Now, now, let’s settle down,” Kevin said. “We shouldn’t be arguing right now.”

  “That’s too bad,” Iris replied. “I think it would’ve been erotic if they started fighting. They could wrestle across the ground, ripping and tearing each other’s clothes off, their breasts mashing together. Wouldn’t you like to see that, Stud?”

  “N-not really.”

  “Ha! You’re looking away. You’d totally like to see it happen.”

  “Be quiet, Iris,” Lilian demanded. “There’s no way that would ever happen—certainly not with the ogre.”

  “O-ogre!” Hina growled. “I’m a kijo, you damn fox! Ogres don’t even exist!”

  “Not the time, you two,” Kevin interrupted again. “Come on, let’s keep moving.”

  Lilian and Hina huffed at each other but said nothing more. Kevin sighed in relief. They really couldn’t afford to stop and argue like this right now.

  “The parking garage is about two miles from where we started,” Hina informed them. “So, we only have about fifteen more minutes to go.”

  “And you’re sure our car is really there?” Lilian asked, her voice biting.

  “Of course I’m sure. Kuroneko-hime had us move your car the day you three came here. No one else would have moved it.”

  “Good. Then let’s keep moving.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that,” a voice said. Several feet ahead of them, three figures could be seen emerging from the darkness of the tunnel, and Kevin recognized one of them immediately.

  “Justin!”

  “Hello, Kevin,” Justin greeted mildly. “It’s been awhile since our last confrontation. I apologize for that. My commander had me stuck with hundreds of missions. I’ve barely had any time to myself.”

  Like the last time they’d seen him, Justin was wearing that silver body armor. Unlike last time, he also had a helmet, which covered most of his head, leaving only his face visible. Standing on either side of him was a Yōkai Killer.

  Kevin clenched his fist. A slew of negative emotions welled up inside of him. Betrayal. Hurt. Anger. Justin had once been one of his friends.

  “Heh, if it isn’t Slowpoke,” Iris said. “I haven’t seen you since you ambushed us.”

  Smiling, Justin shifted his attention from Kevin to Iris. “I do apologize for ambushing you, but, well, you know how it is. Orders and all that. I am glad to see that you’re doing well. Last time I saw you, you had been turned into a mindless beast.”

  “You can thank Stud for that.” Her lips curling seductively, Iris placed a tender hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “He risked his own life to save mine. You’re also pretty lucky. Had he not done so, you would have been killed.”

  “Oh, I’m sure I could have escaped well enough,” Justin joked.

  “Who is this?” Hina asked Lilian, who was the only one not participating in the conversation.

  “That’s Justin. He used to be one of Kevin’s friends.” Lilian paused. “Why am I telling you this? Why are you even talking to me?”

  “Don’t ask me. You’re the one who answered my question.”

  Lilian clicked her tongue.

  “You’re the one responsible for all this, aren’t you,” Kevin deduced. “The attack at Manhattan Beach, and now the attack here in Saint Byakko… was all this just a ruse to find us?”

  “Partially,” Justin admitted. “My actual orders were to tail you, find out what you were up to, and kill you before you could accomplish your mission.” He chuckled, his lips peeling back into a grin. “I think I might have failed in that last part, but you know what they say, right? Better late than never.”

  “So, you’re here to kill us, then?” Kevin asked.

  “That’s right.”

  “As if I’d let you kill my honey,” Hina declared, her sharp nails lengthening. “I don’t care about those two vixens—”

  “Hey!” the two aforementioned vixens shouted.

  “But I’ll be damned if I let you hurt my honey!”

  Hina’s left index finger glowed a bright blue. She used it to scribble something in the air. Kevin recognized it as kanji, logographic characters used in the Japanese writing system, though he didn’t know what they said. He couldn’t read kanji.

  The symbols glowed bright blue, then turned into a fiery red before a geyser of flames burst into existence. The flames engulfed Justin completely. His body was no longer visible. For just a moment, Kevin felt regret that someone he’d considered to be a friend was dead.

  “Wow. These flames are pretty hot.”

  The regret died when, upon the flames being dispersed, Justin reappeared, unharmed, his body surrounded by a light blue barrier.

  “What the—?!” Hina gasped in shock, but before she could finish her sentence, several spears of liquid silver pierced her body. Blood leaked down her skin and stained her shirt as, without much effort, she was lifted off the ground and tossed away like a ragdoll.

  “Hina!”

  “Was she a friend of
yours?” Justin asked. “I’m sorry for doing that. It might seem hypocritical of me, but I’m not really fond of killing.” Kevin gritted his teeth as he glared at Justin. “That’s quite a fierce look you’ve gained. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it directed at me before. Scary.”

  Kevin ignored Justin for a moment. He pushed his anger and the betrayal he felt to the side as well. He couldn’t let his anger cloud his judgement. Rational thinking would save the day here.

  He eyed the two Yōkai Killers on either side of Justin. The one that had stabbed Hina retracted its tendrils, which went back into its body as if they’d never existed. They would pose the biggest problem. Still, there had to be a way to get past them.

  He looked at Lilian. She was staring at him, her face expectant. He glanced back at Justin, then at Lilian. Slowly, so as not to tip off Justin, she nodded.

  “Well, I suppose it’s time we got this over with,” Justin continued. “It’s a shame that things had to end this way, Kevin, but I suppose that’s what happens in war.”

  “You’re right,” Kevin said. “That is what happens in war. This also happens in a war.”

  “Eh?”

  “Now, Lilian!”

  “Celestial Art: Flare!”

  Kevin closed his eyes as two balls of light appeared before Justin’s face and exploded. Justin’s pained screams burned his ears.

  “Iris! The wall to your left!”

  “Void Art: Void Fire!”

  Kevin could hear the roar of black flames as they consumed the wall. Without opening his eyes, he rushed over to where Hina was, lifted her into a fireman's carry, and stood up.

  “Iris?!”

  “It’s ready!”

  Trusting in his partner, Kevin dashed through where the hole should have been made. He felt relief when he didn’t slam into the wall or become consumed by the Void, and instead entered another passage. Opening his eyes, he saw that Lilian and Iris had also made it out and were running alongside him.